Drunk filmed herself drop-kicking kitten, court told

12:58pm Tuesday 2nd October 2007

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CRUEL Nicola Collinson picked up a kitten and booted it like a rugby ball after it crossed her path in the street.

Her twisted and bizarre attack, which she filmed on a mobile phone, was played to magistrates when she appeared in court.

"This defendant took hold of the kitten and drop-kicked it, as if it were a rugby ball. The kitten got to it's feet and went away and it was chased by the defendant who picked it up again and brought it back and did the same thing again. Not only was it drop-kicked but it was also punched."

Clive McKeag, prosecuting

Collinson, 21, picked on the young black and white cat after it wandered to her for affection.

In the video she is seen to pick up the kitten. She then threw it into the air and drop-kicked it as if it were a rugby ball.

She then chased the kitten after it ran away and subjected it further violence.

After making the sick film, Collinson was so proud she sent the clip by mobile phone to several of her friends.

But she was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal after a shocked recipient sent it to the RSPCA.

Collinson, of Parkside Avenue, in Winlaton, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to the offence at Gosforth Magistrates Court.

Clive McKeag, prosecuting for the RSPCA described the her actions as 'wicked' as he showed the disturbing footage to magistrates.

"This is what can only be described as a quite wicked case," he said. "It was only a kitten and it came (to her) looking for affection.

"It was suggested that at some stage it might have scratched (her) and that all this happened is really quite shocking.

"This defendant took hold of the kitten and drop-kicked it, as if it were a rugby ball. The kitten got to it's feet and went away and it was chased by the defendant who picked it up again and brought it back and did the same thing again. Not only was it drop-kicked but it was also punched.

"It was absolutely deliberate, there can be no suggestion it was accidental. And what makes this all the worse is that someone was making a video on a phone camera. You hear laughing and joking.

"The was then sent round various friends bragging about what happened. But one person was so incensed that they sent a copy to the RSPCA who were able to track who made it."

The video is believed to have been made somewhere on the Cowgate estate, in Newcastle, on or before January 6.

After its frightening ordeal the kitten is seen to run away into the night.

RSPCA inspectors have been unable to trace the cat or its owners to find out if it survived the torture.

Collinson when interviewed said she was drunk at the time and could not remember anything about the incident.

She admitted kicking the cat she said it was not her intention to hurt it, the court heard.

Kevin Kivlehan, defending, said Collinson had been suffering from emotional problems at the time, made worse by her drinking and drug-taking.

He argued that she is usually a caring person, and once even used her own money to rescue and rehome a neglected Staffordshire bull terrier.

"The girl that you see in that video is very different from the young lady you have before you today," he told the court. "She has suffered from emotional difficulties, anxiety and depression throughout her life until fairly recently.

She has abused both drugs and alcohol and that has exacerbated the problem.

"She once rescued a Staffordshire bull terrier from a neglectful home using her own money. That's the true nature of Nicola Collinson."

Magistrates adjourned the case for three weeks to allow pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

The presiding magistrate told her: "Having looked at that video of what you did we seriously considered custody. It is appalling that any human can do such a thing to another animal. It is unthinkable and no excuses can be accepted. But we are going to ask for reports in the community band. We feel you are desperately in need of help.

"Hopefully you will live to remember what you have done to that cat and never do anything like that again."